Electric ironer



Dec. 18, 1934. w. M; EMERY ELECTRIC IRONER Filed Aug. 25, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l ALL INV ENTOR BM Ai'TORNEY Dec. 18, 1934. w. M. EMERY ELECTRIC IRONER Filed Aug. 25, 1952 ATTORNEY R O T N E V m dim/5555.

Dec. 18, 1934. w. M; EMERY 1,985,025

ELECTRIC IRONER Filed Au 25, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented- Dec. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC IRONER particularly to those of the rotary roll type usually called mangles.

An object of my invention is to provide an.

ironing machine of unusual convenience for do: mestic use and one of simple and inexpensive construction.

Another object is to provide a machine that is quiet in operation.

Another object is to provide a machine which embodies means to protect the lap of the operator from steaming fabrics, without enlarging the table and interfering with the compactness of the machine.

Another object is to provide a feed board which radiates heat sumciently quickly and hasso little heat storage capacity that it will not burn the fingers of an operator.

Another object is to provide a stand and cabinet for the ironer and a table top therefor which can be opened when'the machine is set against the wall without moving the machine away from the wall and in which when opened, the cabinet parts do not shut oil the light or confine the machine to a consequential extent.

Another object is to equalize the pressure be tween the roll and the shoe when one of them is supported at one end only.

A final object is to provide novel means for moving the roll to the shoe.

The accompanying drawings, together with the specification and claims, explain the basic principle of the invention, which is however subject to modifications in structure not herein detailed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the right-- hand end of a device embodying my invention, in inoperative position, the end of the cabinet being removed, the cabinet being otherwise closed,

Fig. 2 is a like view of the ironer with the cabinet open and the lap-protecting board extended to an operative position,

.Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the cabinet in the closed position, except that the right wing is shown open,

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation'of the right end of the ironer drawn to a larger scale, the roll being separated from. the shoe,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 except that the roll is shown in its normal operating position against the shoe,

Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation of the ironer, the cabinet being open, 1

1932, Serial No. 630,351

Fig. 7 is a view in longitudinal section showing the interior of the roll,

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a feed board,

Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of the feed board,

Fig. 10 is a front elevational view of the feed board, and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line XI-XI, showing the brake drag and mechanism associated therewith to further the movement of the roll to the shoe.

Referring now to the drawings and especially to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a base 14 is therein shown as supported by four legs 15. These legs are just high enough for the base 14 to clear the knees of a seated operator. Slidably mounted in said base is a lap board 16 having an integral front edge strip 1'7 which when the lap board shown in Fig. 1 is its lowest edge when in the position shown in Fig. 2. A front panel 21 is pivotally connected to the table top 19 by a long hinge 20. The long hinge construction makes it possible, as shown in Fig. 2 for table top 19 to hang in back of the back panel 18 and for the front panel 21 to drop or fold in front of back panel 18. Because of this construction, it is possible to open the cabinet and operate the machine without moving the assembly away from the wall should it have been placed against a wall for storage, and the parts are folded in such a way that they do not appreciably block the light should the source of light be at the back of and above the machine.

In Fig. 3 are shown left and right side panels 22 and 22a hinged to base 14 and supported when horizontal by straps 23 anchored to back panel 18 by studs 24 sliding in a slot 25 in straps 23. The side panels when closed are held in place by the overhanging edge of the table top 19 and theweight of said table top which they help to support.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 the base 14 has attached thereto at one end thereof a support 30 on which is mounted a fixed shoe 31. A feed board, 32 is attached to and braced from the shoe structure 31 in a hinged to base 14 at 34 (Fig. 4) and resiliently held by a spring 35 initially compressed by a bolt 36. Fixed to support 33 is a tube 36' forming a flxedyoke with end members 37 (see Fig. 6) each of which supports a pivot 38.

A power unit assembly pivotally supported byand swingable on the pivots 38, each part of which is fixed relative to the other producing a rigid structure, is formed by pivoted arms 39 and 40 being leftand right-respectively, left spindle 41and right spindle 41a, motor housing 42 and gear box 43, and a roll structure 44. including a thin-wall metal cylinder 45 with numerous perforations '46, covered with a fibrous padding 4'7 and a muslin cover 48, and three spiders 49, 49a and 49b supporting the cylinder rotatably mounted on spindles 41 and 4111. Accordingly, the roll is swingable on pivots 38 and becomes a part of the power unit assembly. a The metallic cylinder would tend to magnify the sounds and unless great care is taken to make the motor and gears very quiet the noise might be objectionable.- To overcome this, the roll is perforated as'shown at 46 and this with the fibrous padding behind the holes, makes an excellent sound absorbing means.

Fixed to the middle roll spider 49a is an internal ring gear 51 with which is meshed a driving motor pinion 52. In the gear box is a double spur gear reduction and clutch driven by the rotor of the motor and when the clutch is dis- 635,521, filed September 10,

engaged, the pinion 52 is free to turn in either I direction. This construction is not detailed here because it is comprehensively described in my co-pending applications, Serial Nos. 632,498 and p 1932 and septemger 30, 1932.

The motor includes a rotor 53 and a stator 54 and as has been said, the rotor is operatively connected to drive pinion 52 and roll 44. The stator may be fastened by screws 55 to the motor housing 42 which, as previously mentioned, is part of the power unit assembly and swings from pivots 38. Any other means for holding the stator in its .housing may, of course, be .utilized.

Accordingly,- when the .motor is energized, the clutch being engaged, the roll willrevolve, but if the roll is sufllciently retarded from revolving the stator itself will turn and with it a swing the unit power assembly and, inasmuch as "action and reaction areequal and opposite, this latter movement will cause the roll to move to the shoe, (see the'arrows in Fig. 4).

A drag to retard the r'oll to a sufllcient :degree.

is found in an internal brake 58 which is held under tension against an internal surface of spider 49 by an expansion spring 59 and constantly slightly retards the roll 44.

The brake is held .from rotation by means hereafter described associated with yoke arms 37 so that it will not interfere with the forward movement of the roll to the shoe. 'When the roll is raised to the shoe, the force ofgravlty as well as the further compression of spring 35 offer forces tending to separate the roll and the shoe which must be overcome by the brake drag 58 plus the friction of the roll revolving against the. shoe; to maintain the pressure of the roll spindle 38 is due to the any space against the shoe. excessive brake pressure by the following con.- struction. A strap 61 loosely connects brake drag 58 with spindle 41.

otal attachment to strap 61 at 63 and to yoke am 3'7 at 64. Arms 39 and 40 and pivots 38 on rium. The location of spindles41 and 41a. to the right of a perpendicular plane drawn through motor housing and gear box 43 being mounted eccentrically on spindles 41 and 41a. Further details of this construc-- tion are I given, in my application serial No. 255,973.

When the motor is started, the roll is retarded from revolving by brake-drag 58, which turns or swings the power unit structure on spindles 38 suiflciently so that strap 61 and link arm An arm 62 has a pivis accomplished without Q parts in their relative posi-.

62 move beyond the right angle relationship which is a dead center, since strap 61 tends to rotate toward pivot anchorage 64. Once past this point, strap 61 and link arm 62 tend tov form a knuckle or toggle joint which is shown in an approach to dead center relationship of.

infinite leverage in Fig. 5. There are two possible motions of the roll, a moijon of translation and a motion of rotation., 1"he speed of the rotary motion of the roll is less-than the speed with which the roll turns around pivots 38, re-

sulting in clockwise movement around pivots 38 (as seen in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings) even though pivots 38, 62 and 63 are in a substantially straight line. when the clutch in gaged, the roll becomes free assembly drops back from the position inFig. 5 to that of Fig. 4 under the influence of gravity and other forces previously mentioned.

In Fig. 6,'it will be noted is located at one'endonly of the shoe while the roll is supported in the middle of the back. It is to be expected that the shoe will sag, under the pressure of the roll, resulting in more ironing pressure at the supported end of the shoe. 'As the shoe is usually made of relatively heavy metal, there is no bend in it but flexure does occur in its mounting. This condition is somethe gear train is disenand the power unit what overcome bygiving the roll support some that shoe support 36 indicated play in the pivot point 34 and further overcome I by making eccentric arm 39 longer than eccentric arm 40. Pivot 38 on the left side is located a trifle higher than pivot 38 on. the right side to compensate for the differences in the eccentric arm lengths. .The shoe and the roll are pushed further forward on the left and than on the right, thereby compensating for the flexure in the shoe support. I

While eccentric arms 39 and 40 may not alwas be parallel, they may be said to operate in parallel, that is, not in series. This explanaoverlaps the shoe but does not touch the shoe.

This overlap of the feed board does away with between the feed board and .the shoe in which buttons might; catch. The edge of the top is folded down around the sides and curled parallel when they are fully separated, but when -'the roll is pressed against the shoe the roll is structure and the points 76 contact with the shoe 31 or shoe support 30. This construction permits lifting the feed board oif the shoe structure without tools. A thin piece of asbestos board (not shown) insulates the top 73 from the braces 74. As a result of the use of perforated metal of thin gage, the feed board does not get hot enough to burn the fingers of the operator. This is particularly true of the front edge of the feed board, as the perforations reduce the conductivity of the feed board to heat tending to flow from the rear edge to the front edge.

A switch 77 controls the motor clutch and a thermostat 78 controls the heat of the shoe. This thermostat is adjustable to predetermine the maximum temperature of the shoe and the control member 79 to do this is countersunk into the back of the shoe to permit the insertion of the shoe, when the feed board is detached, into a small tubular garment without the thermostat handle snagging the garment.

It is to be understood that all modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are a part of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an ironing machine, a roll and a cooperating shoe, supporting means for said roll' and shoe, a pivot fixed to one of said supporting means, a. continuously operative drag means to retard the rotation of the roll and toggle means operated by the drag means operably connected to the drag means and to said pivot.

2. In an ironing machine including two relatively movable pressing elements, one of which is supported at one end only, means to equalize the pressure between the ends of the elements including pivot arms of dilferent lengths supporting the movable element to move the end of the movable element further on the end where one of the elements is unsupported.

3. In an ironing machine, a roll and a cooperating shoe, supporting means for the roll'and the shoe, a fixed pivot on one of said supporting means, a continuously operative drag means to retard the rotation of the roll and toggle means operated by the drag means operably connected to the drag means and to said pivot.

4. In an ironing machine, a roll and a co-operating shoe, supporting means for the roll and the shoe, a continuously operative drag means to'retard the rotation of the roll and toggle means operated by the drag means operably connected to the drag means to cause the same to apply and assist in maintaining pressure between the roll and the shoe.

5. In an .ironing machine, -a roll and a shoe constituting cooperating ironing elements, mounting means for one of the elements adapted to move it toward and away from the other element, means to revolve the roll, drag means to retard the rotation of the roll, means to mount the drag means for movement with the roll during the application of pressure between the coaerating elements and operative connections between the drag means and the mounting means to tend to actuate the mounting means to effect pressure between the elements.

6. In an ironing machine, a shoe and a roll constituting cooperating ironing elements, mounting means for one of said elements operative to move it toward and away from the other element and to effect pressure between the elements, friction means turnable with the revolving roll when pressure is being applied and a toggle having operable connections with the friction means to translate forces resulting from the impeding of the roll to cause the roll and the shoe to be pressed together.

7. In an ironing machine including two relatively movable pressing elements, one of which is supported at one end only, two radius arms of different lengths supporting the movable element and having their pivots located at different distances from the face of the fixed element when the same is disengaged to move the movable element a greater distance toward and away from the fixed element on the end where one of the elements is unsupported, thereby tending to equalize the pressure between the elements when together and the spacing therebetween when separated.

8. In an ironing machine including two cooperating relatively movable pressing elements. one of which is supported at one end only, means comprising radius arms moving in parallel and having their pivots located at different distances from a fixed plane extending substantially parallel with the face of the fixed element for moving one of said elements relatively to the other to tend to equalize the pressure therebetween when in engagement.

9. In an ironing machine having a pair of cooperating fixed and movable pressing elements, two radius arms having their pivots located at different distances from the face of the fixed element supporting the movable element at its ends and interconnected to move said element simultaneously at each end thereof and further toward the fixed element at one end than at the other.

10. In an ironing machine having a cooperating roll and heated shoe having openings therein,

a feed board adapted to be attached to the shoe, braces secured to the feed board and each having a hook to fit into one of the openings in the shoe and a projecting point to engage the shoe I with a relatively small engaging contact surface.'

11. In an ironing machine including a roll and a cooperating shoe structure disposed so that tubular garments being ironed pass over and around the shoe, supporting means for one end of the shoe to leave the other end thereof free for insertion into a tubular garment, openings in said shoe, a feed board having projections thereon adapted to fit into the openings, forming means to mount the feed board on the shoe and eifect immediate detachment therefrom by a lifting movement of the feed board to reduce the perimeter of the parts around which the tubular garments pass to allow ironing of tubular garments of smaller perimeter.

12. In an ironing machine including a cooperating roll and shoe disposed so that garments being ironed pass over the shoe, said shoe having substantially vertically-extending openings therein, a .feed board having depending projections thereon adapted to be lowered into the openings in the shoe to locate the rear edge of the feed board in a position above and overlapping the shoe to-avoid danger of catching parts of a garment being ironed between the feed board and the shoe and adapted to effect immediate detachment of the feed board from the shoe by a lifting movement of the feed board.

13. In an ironing machine, a shoe member and a cooperating roll member, one of which is 4- 1,Q8l 5,028 I movable relatively to the other, a radius arm to ble connections with the movable member and determine the course of the movable member, also approaching a. dead center relationship in said radius arm approaching a dead center relaits parts when the movable member has been tionship with the stationary member when the moved into engagement with the stationary 5 movable 'member is moved into pressing relamember, and a drag means for the rollmember 5. tionship with the stationary member, toggle to actuate the togglemeans. means to actuate said radius arm, having operav WILLIAM M. EMERY. 

